Overage prospect Martins Karsums assisted on a first period goal in Riga's 5-4 overtime win over SKA St. Petersburg. Karsums also took a third period slashing penalty in the match. Former Lightning prospect Anton But was -2 in the match for St. Petersburg.

Latvian media outlet apollo.lv is reporting that Lightning forward prospect Martins Karsums has signed a two-year contract with Dynamo Riga of the KHL. Karsums was loaned to Riga during last season, and has had a somewhat protracted negotiation process this summer to formally sign with his hometown club. Karsums and Riga agreed last week to a letter of intent. Training camp for the 2010-11 season started today and will last until July 30.

Latvian media outlet Diena.lv is reporting that Bolt prospect forward Martins Karsums has signed a letter of intent with Dynamo Riga of the KHL.

Riga and Karsums have been locked in negotiations for much of the summer after Karsums finished the 2009-10 season with Riga, going 4-4-8 in 12 regular season games and 2-1-3 in 9 KHL playoff games. Karsums was loaned to Riga by the Lightning on January 17, 2010 and subsequently represented Team Latvia in the World Championships, scoring 3 goals and an assist in 6 WC games.

The 5'10" and 198 lb winger was expected to formally sign with Riga this season after spending the bulk of last season playing for the Lightning's AHL affiliate in Norfolk. Karsums finished up the 2008-09 season with Tampa after being acquired at the 2009 trade deadline from the Boston Bruins along with Matt Lashoff for Mark Recchi, and seemed poised to earn a regular NHL roster spot for 2009-10 season.

Riga is also reporting that they have signed longtime NHL goaltender Manny Legace, and have previously signed Lightning prospect forward Juraj Simek to a training camp try-out agreement.

The blog Latvian Hockey is confirming that forward Juraj Simek, who has played in the Lightning organization for the past two seasons with Norfolk, has signed a tryout deal with KHL club Dynamo Riga. Dynamo Riga was also the club last season for fellow Lightning prospect Martins Karsums.

TJ Oshie scored the winning shootout goal for Team USA to complete a 3-2 win over Italy. USA went 3-0-0 in the Relegation Round, and will avoid relegation. Italy and Kazakhstan will be relegated in lieu of Austria and Slovenia in next year's World Championships. Lightning blueliner played 15:33 in the match for the Americans. Team USA's tournament is now completed. They finished 13th out of the 16 team field.

Lightning blueline prospect Vladimir Mihalik was on the ice for both German goals as the home team defeated Slovakia 2-1. Mihalik played 17:39 in the match. Lightning forward prospect Richard Panik played 8:51 for the Slovaks, whose only goal came from Marek Svatos. Slovakia's tournament is now over. They finished 12th out of the 16 team field.

The Czech Republic got goals from Lukas Kaspar, Jaromir Jagr, and Jakub Klepis to defeat Canada 3-2. Lightning star forward Steven Stamkos returned from a concussion suffered against Switzerland to play 19:38 for the Canadians. He took minors for roughing and cross-checking in the match. Fellow Lightning forward Steve Downie played just 8:48. Canada will face Russia on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

Russia got 1 goal and 1 assist from Maxim Afinogenov en route to a 5-0 thumping of Finland. Semyon Varlamov had a 36 save shutout in the match. Lightning prospect goaltender Vasily Koshechkin did not play. Russia will face the Canadians on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

Sweden got second period goals from Lightning contracted players Johan Harju and Victor Hedman on the way to an easy 5-0 win over Switzerland. Harju played 17:40 in the match while Hedman played 16:12. Harju's goal was his 3rd of the tournament after a disappointing KHL season where he scored just 4 goals all season for Dynamo Moscow. Sweden draws Denmark on Thursday in the quarterfinals.

Scott Clemmensen had a mind blowingly light 10 save shutout to move USA to 2-0-0 in the Relegation Round at the World Championships. Lightning defenseman Mike Lundin got his first point of the tournament in the match, a helper on a goal by Brandon Dubinsky, in 13:49 of ice time.

Pavel Datsyuk had 3 goals and 1 assist as Russia pummeled Denmark 6-1. Lightning prospect netminder Vasily Kosehchkin stopped 30 of 31 shots faced in his second start of the tournament. The effort knocked his gaudy save percentage down from a mark of .970 to a mere .969.

Latvia got 2 goals from Janis Sprukts as they dismantled Norway 5-0. Edgars Masalskis stopped all 30 shots he faced for the shutout for the Latvians. Lightning prospect forward Martins Karsums played 15:33 in the match.

Belarus got an overtime goal from Alexei Kalyuzhny (easy for you to say) 4:45 into the extra session to upend home country Germany 2-1. Lightning prospect defenseman Kirill Gotovets did not dress for the match.

"Big Joe" Harju opened to scoring for Sweden, which defeated Canada 3-1. Harju Played 16:35 in the match. Sweden also got a pair of goals by forward Jonas Andersson. Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman played 18:34 for the Swedes. At the other end of the ice, Lightning forward Steve Downie played 13:10 in the match and was on the ice for a goal by Brooks Laich, Canada's only goal of the match. Lightning star Steven Stamkos missed his second game after being concussed against Switzerland and ex-Lightning defenseman Timo Helbling.

Denmark scored 6 goals in the first period to shock Slovakia 6-0 in their preliminary round World Championships match. Lightning prospect defenseman Vladimir Mihalik played 19:07 in the match for the Slovaks while fellow Lightning prospect Richard Panik played 20:40.

Norway had the unfortunate task of playing an annoyed Canadian squad after the Canadians lost in an upset to Switzerland in their previous match, and the results were not pretty. Canada got a hat trick from the Islanders' John Tavares as they dismantled the Norweigians 12-1. Lightning forward Steve Downie had a goal 15:14 of ice time. Star forward Steven Stamkos missed the match while recovering from a concussion.

Finland got a pair of second period goals, including a marker by Jarkko Immonen in Finland's 2-0 win over Belarus. Lightning prospect defenseman Kirill Gotovets had 6:43 of ice time and did not see another shift after being on the ice for Finland's second goal.

Latvia got a pair of goals from Lightning prospect forward Martins Karsums, but it wasn't enough as the Baltic republic fell to Sweden 4-2. Karsums played 15:31 in the match and was named Latvia's best player. Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman assisted on a first period goal by Oilers first rounder Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson and played 17:06 in the match. Lightning prospect forward Johan Harju played played 14:38 and was on the ice for Karsums' second goal in the third period.

Oh dear. Team USA fell in overtime in an upset for the second straight game after Denmark's Stefan Lessen broke a 1-1 tie 2:04 into overtime. Lightning defenseman Mike Lundin played 14:28 in the match.

Canada struck for four straight power play goals, including a marker by Lightning forward Steven Stamkos, to open the game in a 6-1 pasting of Latvia. Stamkos played 15:26 in the match and took a second period penalty for slashing. His Lightning teammate Steve Downie had an even strength goal in 14:27 of ice time and two minors for roughing and one for slashing in a chippy third period. Lighning prospect Martins Karsums played 15:23 in the match.

Steven Stamkos assisted on Corey Perry's opening goal and later scored a goal of an assist from Matt Duchene as Canada cruised in their opening match of the World Championships. Interestingly, Stamkos did not play with his Tampa Bay Lightning linemate Steve Downie, who played on Canada's third line with Brooks Laich and Steve Ott. Downie took two roughing minors in a pair of altercations with Italy's Patrick Iannone.

Happy trails to Martins Karsums and Dynamo Riga. Alexei Ugarov scored a goal for KHK MVD 3:38 into the second overtime to topple Riga in Game Five and clinch a 4-1 semifinal series win. Karsums played 23:50 in the match. KHK MVD is the first team in the KHL playoffs to advance to their conference's finals.

Elsewhere today, Yaroslavl defeated Spartak Moscow 2-1 to take a 3-2 series lead in their Western Conference Semifinal. Tomorrow will feature a pair of pivotal Game Five matchups in the Eastern Conference, including Magnitogorsk at Kazan.

Sodertalje overcame 1 goal and 1 assist by Coyotes first rounder Olivier Ekman-Larsson to stay undefeated in the Kval till Elitserien. Lightning prospect Riku Helenius ran his record to 3-0-0 in the promotion/relegation series with the win. Sodertalje faces Allsvenskan side Almtuna on Saturday in their fourth game of the ten game series.